Paleo and people with kidney transplants

My father had a kidney transplant in 1999 after over twenty years of dialysis. In 2007 he had a quadruple bypass due to gradual blockage caused by necessary medication for the kidney. I've talked to my parents extensively about eating paleo and they are very intrigued. My only concern is for my dad and his kidney. I have no idea what the affects could be, if any, and it's not something that any paleo guru's normally cover. And the last thing I want is my dad asking his doctor, who's never talked about diet with my father, if eating paleo is safe for him.

Virtual high-five for anyone who can point me in the right direction. Thanks!

4
Answers

First, ask if the usual changes that occur from adopting a paleo diet are likely to have any negative side-effects. Eg:

increased HDL cholesterol

decreased LDL cholesterol and triglycerides

lower blood-glucose levels

blood-glucose levels that are more stable

fat loss

etc

Next, identify the primary foods that your dad will reduce significantly, and ask if they contain anything that is specifically important for your dad's health.

If you're worried about the doctor freaking out about a high-fat diet, focus on the low-carb side of paleo.

If you're worried about the doctor freaking out about a low-carb diet wrecking havoc on kidneys, read this and find some peer-reviewed studies that show no link between low-carb diets and kidney damage.

Disclaimer: Don't trust anything that a random person on the internet says. Make sure to do sufficient research and come to your own conclusion.

As your father has already undergone quadruple bypass, so I will suggest you that before opting for Paleo you must consult with a good doctor. He will study your father medical history and then will suggest you the best possible treatment.For further information on kidney related issues you can refer Justsavelives.com .

Robb Wolf just did a couple articles on kidneys...best info we have seen so far. (My husband has lupus nephritis...his nephrologist was NOT helpful in regards to diet.) Head on over to Robb's site and check it out. The post was within the last week or 10 days.

NephroPal's blog, written by a nephrologist, has a lot of posts on evolutionary medicine, but the earlier posts focused on diet and kidney health. Well referenced, so worth a look. The Bernstein Diabetes Forum has posters who've used a low carb diet to improve kidney health. Bernstein is low carb, very close to Paleo, and focuses on tight control of blood sugar. Bernstein would argue that too much protein could harm kidneys - IF it destabilizes blood glucose. In other words, your dad should consider using a BG meter to implement this, or any diet change, safely. For details on using that efficiently, see bloodsugar101.com